Seared orange peel | Allspice | Hot honey | Seared mint | Clove | Glazed donut

Seared orange peel | Cinnamon | Apple | Honey | Floral | Candy corn

Grilled apricot | Rye spice | Black pepper | Baking spices | Light dry oak

Sazerac Company continues the expansion of their Sazerac brand line with the second permanent expression in 6 months. In mid-2025, the company released a 100 proof version that joined the brand's other offerings: Sazerac 18 Year (part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC)), Thomas H. Handy Sazerac (also part of BTAC), and the ongoing no-age statement 90 proof release.

It was about time Sazerac showed attention to the brand that shares its namesake. The 90 proof release has always been a good value-buy for the sip it delivers. The 100 proof addition didn’t seem like much of a jump in proof to warrant a new release, but its sip spoke for itself. With the Full Proof release, the brand now enters Thomas H. Handy territory in terms of proof. Handy also varies from year to year in quality, but it is typically a very bold tasting rye. Is the Full Proof release trying to imitate Thomas H. Handy and be a more budget-friendly offering, or does the release have something to say of its own?

Sazerac Rye Full Proof shares many of the same base flavors as the 100 proof release, except there is a concentration of flavor, resulting in, for example, the orange peel and mint having a more seared taste to them. Honey notes now taste and smell more zesty and savory, falling more in line with hot honey than sweet honey. The finish ramps up the rye spice and black pepper proportionally, which should really stand out in a cocktail, as the Buffalo Trace press release emphasizes.  

The base Sazerac Rye has always been a straightforward tasting rye. As the proof increases, complexity has risen along with it, but the rye isn’t as interesting as the ryes we’ve been getting from Pursuit Spirits, Preservation Distillery, Jack Daniel’s, and Wheel Horse, to name a few.

Where Sazerac 18 Year goes for subtle complexity, and Thomas H. Handy goes for bold spice, Sazerac 90, 100, and 125 proof all go for widespread drinkability. In fact, the jump in proof doesn’t automatically make the Full Proof release any better than the 100 Proof one. It’s more immediately impactful, but more rye spice and dry oak also come along with it. The 100 Proof still finds somewhat of a sweet spot (pun not intended) in the lineup due to its balance of sweet and spice. Once again, though, Sazerac Rye is high on value, and a 125 proof rye for $40 with decent widespread availability should not be overlooked.